Colubridae
Glossy Swampsnake
HarmlessLiodytes rigida
6 photographs of the Glossy Swampsnake. © Philip Vanbergen.
The Glossy Swampsnake (Liodytes rigida) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Glossy Swampsnake
The crayfish snake (Liodytes rigida), also known commonly as the glossy crayfish snake, the glossy swampsnake, the glossy water snake, and the striped water snake, is a species of semiaquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, and preys mainly on crayfish.
Geographic range
L. rigida is found on the coastal plains of both the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast: in eastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, southern Arkansas, Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, northern Florida, southern Georgia, eastern South Carolina, and southeastern North Carolina. There is also a disjunct population in eastern Virginia.
Description
Adults of L. rigida are on average 16 inches (about 41 cm) in total length (including tail), and are heavy-bodied. The maximum recorded total length for this species is 31+3⁄8 inches (80 cm).
L. rigida is olive brown dorsally. Additionally, two blackish dorsal stripes may or may not be present. The upper lips (labial scales) are yellow. Ventrally, it is yellow with two parallel series of black spots, which merge anteriorly into a single series. The ventral surface of the tail may have a median black line, or it may be unmarked.
The dorsal scales are arranged in 19 rows at midbody. They are strongly keeled, except for the first two rows. The first row (adjacent to the ventrals) is smooth, and the second row is weakly keeled. The ventrals number 132-142. The anal plate is divided. The subcaudals number 51-71, and are divided.
Diet
L. rigida eats crayfish.
Reproduction
L. rigida is viviparous.
Subspecies
Three subspecies of L. rigida are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Liodytes rigida deltae (Huheey, 1959) – Delta crayfish snake
Liodytes rigida rigida (Say, 1825) – glossy crayfish snake
Liodytes rigida sinicola (Huheey, 1959) – Gulf crayfish snake
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Liodytes.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Glossy Swampsnake
- Is the Glossy Swampsnake venomous?
- No. The Glossy Swampsnake (Liodytes rigida) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Glossy Swampsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Glossy Swampsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Glossy Swampsnake dangerous?
- The Glossy Swampsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Glossy Swampsnake live?
- The Glossy Swampsnake has verified records in 1 country, including United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Glossy Swampsnake eat?
- L. rigida eats crayfish.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Liodytes
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Liodytes rigida
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.